it's come to this, release me
1x03: Element of Surprise
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All through the ride back to the headquarters, she sees that the usual happy masks that Sam puts on aren't intact, and that by itself is just a big blaring alarm that has left a frown on her features.
So she goes above and beyond her care of duty. (As a friend, it always is as a friend for her.) She knows him well and long enough now to know when something's bothering him, especially if the number of minutes she has to wait for him to emerge from the lockers is any indication.
Her fingers drum against the shoulder strap; it's just something she has to do. Keeping her fingers occupied with an activity keeps her mind clear, her energies focused. She senses him before he even makes as much as a sound, and she turns her head slightly to him when he walks up the stairs.
He's surprised to see her standing there.
She's (maybe not so) surprised at herself for being there.
Putting on a small, tight smile for her, he doesn't act like her sudden appearance surprises him as they walk in stride towards the car park, although he's puzzled. Not that it's the most pressing issue of the moment for him. Not when he hasn't gotten out of his mind frame of that day in Afghanistan, not when he can feel the invisible wall coming on stronger than it's ever been raised when Ed has pushed him to his limits earlier.
"Burritos. A couple cans of beer," her voice rings out as he shakes himself loose from his thoughts. It's joined with a shrug and a tug of a smile on her face, and in that instance he thinks, maybe, just maybe, that's enough to tear the wall down.
He allows a real smile on his face (for her).